Wednesday, May 21, 2008

I haven't updated in a week and that's because for once I have been having way too much fun. We were at the river all weekend and it took several days to pack and now several to unpack.

The few posts I am able to do over the next 2 or 3 weeks will be short and sweet. It's gonna be crazy getting ready for all of our fam coming in town for my sweet sister's graduation. A coming post and probably not a short one. More like long and sappy. Yea. So...housework to do because no matter how long I leave it, it just won't do itself. Dern. So anyways.

ETSY. I am completely and totally obsessed with it. My day is not complete without a quick browse on Etsy. BY quick I mean an hour. I love all things etsy. It's a God-send to anyone that loves unique-ness! So my Etsy Faves...

Features???? Alchemy!!! Holy cow, it's awesome. You can place a custom want ad for anything you want and then people bid on it. I placed one a few weeks back for a Pre-made First Year Scrapbook for MacKenzie and within 6 hours had 15 bids. I chose my bidder and she got to work. I got it in last Friday and it's AWESOME. I am just in love with and have so enjoyed working on the picture portion!! I spend my days trying to figure out something else I need created!

SELLERS??? These are some of my favorite ones (most are for girly items but a few are not) - check them out and tell them I sent you!Cozy Moments - AWESOME bath products!The Portland Beanie Company - I have the adult ones and Kenzie had some newborn ones as well! Too cute...I plan on getting JD one in the fall!Jewelry and Baby Bling - Responsible for Kenzie's early jewelry obsessionBow Baby Bow - For all you mommie's with baby girls. This is the BEST place for the adorable crochet headbands!!! You can get a lot of 8 for less that $15!Polymer - Vinyl wall quotes!! We have 7 in our house!! I seriously *heart* these!Bella Button Designs - The Chicest "mom" jewelry!!! I can't wait to get mine!!Adorable Me Boutique - Who needs you Princess Linens?? Not me!Super Scrappers - Wonderfully unique cards and scrapbooks!

I could go on for days but I know you are sick of checking out all these great things and even more sick of spending money!! SO enjoy and catch you next time for Van-Fam Faves!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

As a teenager the last thing I wanted to do was have kids. I'd grown up with too younger (much younger) siblings and didn't think I wanted to be around younger kids ever again. I've always been a rather selfish person. I have no problem admitting this now because it's an issue I have given to God and though I still struggle with my earthly selfishness, I know it's an area of my self that God works on everyday! I can still remember my Nana telling me shortly after having JD how amazed her and PawPaw were with the person/mom I'd become. I believe she said, "You were always such a selfish thing that we are just so amazed and proud of you now." Gee, thanks. I can honestly say that I have my kids to thank for my self-lessnish now, which in turn is such a gift from God. So on this Mother's Day I am so thankful for them, because they have made me into such a different person.

There are certain feelings that you only experience as a mother. These feelings are such benefits to motherhood. It's like my Sephora Card, it's a FREE service and you reap incredible benefits. Motherhood is by no means Free. It's rather expensive both financially and emotionally, but you the rewards are so worth it.

Some of the feelings I never new until being a mommy...

- the guiltiness I feel for being away from my babies too long

- the guiltiness after losing my temper

- the guiltiness I feel for not bonding with MacKenzie until she was 4 months

- the guiltiness I feel every time I "wish" for a break

- the overwhelming joy that breastfeeding brings (I wish I wouldn't have given up so quick with JD and nursed instead of pumped)

- the overwhelming joy that JD's squinty-eyed, toothy grin brings

- the overwhelming joy that MacKenzie's toothless grin brings

- the overwhelming joy I feel every time I hear JD say "I love you"

- the overwhelming joy I feel every time I am the only one that MacKenzie will stop crying for

- the overwhelming joy my children's laughter brings

- the protective feeling only a mother knows, there are times when I have to walk out of the room when Jimmy is fussing at JD so that I don't jump to his defense

- the obsession with wanting to protect them both every second of the day

- the fear that something will happen to them

- the fear that something will happen to me and I won't be able to see them grow up

- the fear in failing as a parent

- the sadness in knowing that one day they will break my heart

- the sadness remembering the days when I broke my own mother's heart

- the sadness in knowing they will get their heart's broken

- the broken heartedness I feel for those mommies out there with sick babies

- the gratitude I feel that God blessed me by making me a mother

- the gratitude I feel that I am not not only a mother but THEIR mother

- the gratitude that my own mother and grandmother raised me to be such a loving individual

- the gratitude that I was brought up loving Jesus so that I can in turn teach my children to love Him

- the gratitude that He sent His son to die on a rugged cross to save us so that we may spend eternal life in heaven

How blessed I am and how grateful I am to be able to love these babies of mine every day. I have some precious pictures coming but I have to wait to upload them because I had to order a new part for my camera!!

I'll end by saying that this past Sunday was the best Mother's Day yet. I spent all day with my precious family and just enjoyed these three blessings I get to be with daily. We had a wonderful breakfast with my in-laws and then a potluck dinner with our whole street. JD and I topped off this marvelous day by baking cupcakes together. It was a day to remember for sure...

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

In tears after just reading a precious post (old post actually) by Virtue Alert in regards to flashbacking to "formal playroom" days. We have a formal playroom as well. This is the room that should be the formal living room but because of small children is a formal playroom instead. It's been my least favorite room of all since moving in because it's not decorated with anything other than blocks, a car rug, a minature table, cars and trucks, and a football toy box. That is until now. Until realizing that it's the ONE room that I will be able to sit in 16 years from now and still hear the screams of joy and the innocent laughter bouncing off the wall. It's the room that I will always remember being a bit of a mess but always the most fun. It's a room I know will change with age, but will affectionately always be known as the "formal playroom." Thanks Vickie. I needed to remember this. Especially today.

It's been one of those days all day long. I am not sure if it started with the gray skies outside or waking up knowing I was gonna spend all day cleaning. We are dealing with some family issues with my brother (welcome any and all prayers on this matter) and we all seem to be a second from tears right now. Shannon graduates 13 days from today. This is a future blog but I can't bring myself to do it yet. Anyways...long story short, it's been one of those days and I needed to read a sweet reminder that these days are numbered and that before I know it, it's gonna be my youngest graduating!

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Cakes, cakes, and more cakes! A dear friend of mine just recently went into the cake business. This was after telling her for the last 6 months that her cakes are too good to keep hidden!! She makes the most gorgeous cakes I have ever seen and they taste 10x better than they look (yes, even better than RJ Goodies - much better actually)! I can't tell you enough good things not only about the cakes, but the mommy who makes the cakes. She puts sooo much time and energy into each one and they are almost too pretty to cut into...unless you have had one before, then you know they are well worth the cut!!! She's also affectionately called the "cupcake lady" by all of the kiddos in our playgroup because she brings cupcakes to our bi-monthly home play dates! We are so blessed by them!

If you are in the Houston area, I HIGHLY suggest giving her a call (or email, or comment) the next time you are in need of one. She has done 3 for me so far (on the site above...the "pickles & ice cream" one (baby shower), the pink and brown polka-dot one (baby shower) with the baby on top, and the Texas-shaped one (JD's birthday cake - see the J-D and 3)! I love them all! She's doing 2 more for me at the end of May for my sister & brother's graduation a party (flip-flop and a Texas Tech one). I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!!

So that's the Van-Fam pick this week!!! Patty Cakes - check out the blog and pictures and order a cake (or cupcakes) from her next time you need one...you won't be disappointed!!

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Apparently I am just full of useless information. Ok, maybe not useless but nothing that will get me into mesa! That being said, I do a lot of online shopping (or online-window shopping). I am usually the go-to person for those "Where do I get this?" questions. Felicia, you're totally responsible for this idea by the way. So, I thought because I have nothing better to do (like finish decorating my house, prepare for a bunch of family coming next month, or you know...pay bills) I'd start a new feature on my blog. A "My Top Picks" if you will. I can tell you right now that there will be A LOT of girly stuff because that's what I buy a lot of. But there should be plenty of others as well.

So, today marks the first post about Van-Fam Faves!

Van-Fam Fave #1!One of my latest obsessions with summer fast approaching is being bronzed. And since apparently sun cancer is a major concern and there's that whole other wrinkle-issue, I am trying to avoid too much sun exposure. AND because we spend so much time at the lake and river I'd really like to have a little color in a suit. I've tried several of the self-tanners out there and even went did some Mystic Tanning. I haven't been all that thrilled with any (I am sure the Mystic is great for some - not for me) until I found this thing of beauty....Thank you Bath&Body Works!This is by far the best sunless tanner I have ever used!! The smell is great and the "sticky-factor" is pretty low. I personally still think it has a tanning lotion/sunscreen smell to it, that kinda cocoa butter smell, but it's not bad at all. Not like chemically burned skin, like several others I've tried. It's also got the best results!! There's a dial on top where you "pick your shade" before dispensing it into your hand. I started on a pretty dark color to begin with because I tan fairly easily and I was amazed by the results. I usually use it about twice a week depending on what I have going on and like I said, LOVE IT! I totally recommend this to anyone who wants to quickly appear tan without tanning!! But remember to exfoliate and shave prior to using any tanners!!

Something great to top it off (also from BABW)

I also really love this product, BUT this probably won't work for everyone. It's a pretty dark bronzer and has a lot of glitter. It's not very subtle. I also don't recommend it for everyday use. I save this one for going out...

Well, there you have it. My first post featuring my current faves. I have a million more but will save them for future Van Fam Faves! posts.